Temperature responsive relief valve for fluid heating systems



June 16, 1953 F. H. MUELLER E-rAL 2,642,229

TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE RELIEF VALVE v FOR'FEUID HEATING 2 SheetSheet --1Filed nay 2s, '195o ullllllllll lllllluuplJ.l

INVENTORS.

' Emme JLMmzze .Ejazgl E. linker,

ATTORNEYS.

m2121252 mm saws-5% Kfig vm 2642229 FOR FLUID 1-1EA'1'ING Filed nay 2e.195o 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 u, l I

l INVENTORS: Emk JLA/mener@ EL'acZ E. ljnnker,

Patented June 16, `19.5.3

Y y 112,642,229 Y l TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE RELIEEVALVE Eon ELtnDgnEATInoSYSTEMS Frank'HL Mueueraa EarLETinker, Decatur. yIll., .assig'nors"to-Mueller .Co.,/ Decatur,;"lll'.,ia

' corporation of Illinois Ampliada@fun.; se; 1950', serial Nb. 164,558

1 .v The present invention relates to anew and improved temperatureresponsive valvenforiluid supplyingjheating s ystems'and'the likez'AAnirnpcrtant object is toprovide a quick'opgnf ing temperature reliefvalve ofthe automatic orY reseating type-which is morepositiveandfaccurate inA operation' than f valves vheretofore` avail*-able, and 'which permits complete'replacement of all the working partsthrough the topjofthe valve body without the necessity of disconnectingthe -valve jbod'y from'the tank, boiler or other uid'fheating systemwith which it is associ-p ated# Y M* i j A'fiirther object is to providemeans 'to'.pref

vent imposingan' overloading pressure by the 15 valve againstl its 'seatwhen the-valve"y ism'oved to `#its closed position, by counterbalancingthe pressureapplied to close thev valvefby an oppos`` f ing pressurefsuficien'tto' prevent severe embedding of the valve. In thisconnection, it might-be mentioned it has beenfound that the commonlyused.l beaded valve seat'. when associated with a composition'membero-rwasher -on' the valve,` isi the most positive andeiicient of anyknowntype-of` seat, and requiresv less pressure"to-main 1.25

',tain it closed as long as-itf isv vkept cleanv and' free ofrforeignmatterz The ability-of this type oiseat Sto" keep itself cleanVis. greatlyreduced las the seat embeds itselfappreciably into vthe.washerwhen-.th'rvalve-is moved toits closed `position.-A`

very um@ embedding win take `piace if the cios-l ing force or.pressure-is" eq'ual'toor only in excess of Y Vthe force 4#requiredtoefect =a1 pressure` seal.-

I-Iowever, excessiveloadswill produce severefembeddingfand thus impairthe efficient Yoperation 3^, of` the .valve 'L/Inatemperature:reliefyalve,ein? o beddingT Aof the. seat r isi'objectj.ior`1able`' since itnot only increases the tendency totrapforeignma'l terialfon. the seating surfaceY butn also permitsates-to :relieve the excessive pressure? llnlfact, r`ir"13,extreme-cases, embedding of the valve evenpre ventsthe valve frombeing'- -properly seated. It/ will be seen that the elevatedtemperatures-at r which a relief valve isnecessarily`subjected'increases `the A`tendency Aof embedding -the-valvev`againstsits'seat.I Accordingly,- another impor'- tant feature of theinvention ccmprehends the' provision of a`-reliei valve nhaving acontacting-- k surface ofsuitablvdurable composition-materiali vandwhich is* arrangedto be moved into contactwith-fa beaded valve seatsoaste providejanf eftectivelseal butI without dangerA ofjjbeirzigt -sel 8Claims. (Cl. 236-99) panying` claims and drawing'sf ,I

lReferringtothe drawings in which are shown several preferredembodiments vof* the invention Other objects and advantages of theinvention` will become apparent fromthe 'following description whentaken in conjunction with the accom- *Figure 1 is Va'planfview ofafreliefr valve constructed in.y accordance with 'the lpresentinvention.

Figure 2 isa vertical sectional :view taken substantially along the'line 2`2lofA Figure 1.

Figure S'is-a horizontal sectional view taken; substantially 'along theVline 33 of Figure 2'.

Figure fris an end'view of Fig-ure'l.

Figure 5 is a 'plan view of--a `modified-iorrn o l the invention.

Figure 6 is asecvtional view taken substantially f along the line G+S ofFigure 5. Y

v Figure 7 is a scctionalview taken substantially along theline -"I- ofFigure 6, and l A Figure'8 is 'an end view of Figure 5.

Referring to-thedrawings, Ill indicates a valve housing: or bodyfo'f anysuitable size and shape and which is. interiorly formedwith a lowertransverse'partition II yand a vertically spaced .Y

upper v.transverse partition I2. The partitions n and 1|; are connectedtogether at their' rear l' ends Eby avertial' wallY-I3 that is spacedfrom the adjacentl outer wall-I'Sfbf the housing I0' to l formavertica'lf passage |42 Y -The vertically spaced partitions "Il and l2alsovseparate the interiorV of the housingl into a lower receivingchamber 15, anintermediate discharge chamber I6 and aniupper chamber. li whichV directly communi-A cateswith thevlowerr'chamber'-t5 through thepassage it.: The valvebody' lil iis provided with a depending reducedlower end portion or neck lhavinga luidinlet'opening i9 andfmay be eX-ternally' thre'adedlas-at 20 so asto be connected thev lvalve` seat tochangeits positionand -hence change the temperature -at whichthevalveoper-V to a complementary formedr portion of va suitable nula.hearings-System, sueltas the tank or bauer f v ,2li (Fig. l2),;j'so.that if the ilu-idin'y the tank is l subjectedtoixcessive'temperatures, it is allowed to escapethrough the reliefvalve.

f Thefupperrpartition I2'has a centrallyldisposedopeningftherwall ofwhich preferably is internallythreaded as at 22-y so as to detachablyyreoeive'tl'ie :complementary threads on a valve ring member or 'plug 23having a central opening 2liv establish-ingy Y communication 5 ofl the gupper chamber I'I withthe` intermediate chamber it.

. 3 to the partition I2. The ring member 23 adjacent the opening 24 hasan outwardly extending annular bead or rim V26 that constitutes a valveseat arranged to be engaged by a reciprocating valve 21 which preferablyis recessed as at 28 to receive a composition washer or insert 29 of any-suitablematerial `.The washer 29 is of such size and shape as vtofirmly 'contact the bead 23 when the valve is moved to its closedposition so as tocut off the flow of the fluid from the upper chamber I1into the intermediate connected and the diameter of the bellows 38 issmaller than the diameter of the opening 22 so chamber I6. The top oftheA valve 21is closed .by a cap 30 having a polygonal tool receivinghead or portion 30.

extend over the upper chambenllandfhas ade-,

pending externally threaded annular flange 3| arranged to be detachablyconnected toa complementary formed neck portion 32 of the'house ing. Thecap 30 may also be formed Withen annular outer ilange 33 between whichand the portion 32 is interposed agasket 34 to provide a tight seal whenthe parts are assembled. A coilfcompression spring34v is coniinedbetween the cap 3|] and the valve .21 -so as normally to urge the latterVinto yieldable engagement 4with its lseat 26. The valve -21 has adependingjguide member 3 5 secured thereto in anysuitable l manner suchas by the threaded bolt 36 which may also be utilizedto maintain thecomposition washer or surface 29 Vin position. The guide member ispreferably formed with circumferentially spaced radial ribs 31 which maybe spaced vsubstantially 90 apart in order to allow the fluid to passfrom the upper chamber |1 into the intermediate chamber I6 when the`valve is raised above its seat.

The operating thermal element of the valve 21 includes a bellows orSylphon 38 which is -positioned in the intermediate chamber |B and hasan upwardly extending tubular Aboss 39 which is normally slightly spacedfrom the lower end of theg-uide member 35 when .the valve is in itsnormally closed position against its seat 26.V The bellows 38 atl itsopposite or lower end hasl a dependingboss or shoulder 44|) arranged toengage the top of the lower partition The partition l is formed with acentralopening 4| coaxial with the opening 24 Vbut-of, slightly smallerdiameter and arranged Vto be overlapped by the shoulder 4|l when thelatter restsv on the partition A Vdepending metal tube 42 constitutes apart of the thermal element and is seviding ymeans for preventingexcessive embed-V cured at its upper end in any suitable manner toV Ythe bellows 3 8 and communicates with the interior thereof. Thetube42andbellows 38 may be iilled with a heat expansible orvolative fluidand the lower end of the tube isV closed in any suitable manner such asby lcrimping 43 so4 as to confine the fluid within the tube and`bellows. The bellows 38 and tube 421. are axially slidable ordisplaceable relative to the openings.. 4| the lower partition andtheltube 42 may be.

formed with spacedrcollars or shoulders 444 and 45 that provide anannular groove for receiving a suitable packing such as an Y,Cif-ringY.or the. like 46 thatprevents the passage of the iiuidfrom the.

lower chamber l5 into the intermediate. .cham.

ber I6 and provides atight seal or sliding t.

upon axial displacement of the tube :42 and.

packing 4 6 relative to the opening 4|. ,The-case ingor body l0 has alateral tubular portionV 41 internally threaded as a t 48 to` provideanoutlet. 49 that communicates `wil3h,the intermediate;

that upon removal of the cap 30 and the ring Ymember 23,'the thermalelement may initially be, introduced through the top of the housing so4that, the. tube '42 extends through the neck |8 ,-,intothe .tank .orboiler 2| and the bellows 38 is erts and upward thrust on the tube 42and the lower collar 44, prior to entering the passage |4V tofbeconducted tothe upper chamber |1 where it coacts with the tension of thespring 34 to move and maintain the valve 25 normally against its seat.26. This upward pressure von the tube 42 and collarl 44 raises thethermal element bodily and moves the boss 39 in contact with the,

guide 35 sogas to exertan upward force or pressure on the underside orbottom of the valve 21 suiiicientto counterbalancethe combined downwardpressure*ofthe spring 34 and the pressure of the fluid in the upperchamber I1, thusvpreding vof the composition valve against its seat atthe elevated temperatures to which the relief valve is ordinarilysubjected: As the diameter of the slidable or movable packing seal 46 isslightly less than the diameter of the opening 24 in the; Vring member23, these two areas are proportioned to give the necessaryadded closureforce required; to effect aproper seal at higher pressures, Withj theVresuli'qthat the proper closure load is applied onthe valve seat atalltimes under different or varying pressures. In other words, pOsitive,elli--V cient and economical means` are provided to pre-' ventpressureeffects from voverloading the seat; 26gso that ak suitable Vcompositionwasher 29Y withr itsstructuralpractical advantages may efiicient-i lybel associated withY the temperature responsive valve for. controllingthe discharge of the fluid when thelatter .reachesadangerous orVexcessivetemperature. 3

operation,` assuming the temperature re.-` lief Valvevto beassociatedwith a tank or. boiler,y

the temperatureof theguid. such as water in the tank .2|, will besuch asnot normally to aiiect,

the. closed position ofthe valve 21 against its seat 2 9 ;caused by thepressure of the spring 34- and, the pressure of the fluid in the chamberI1. This downward or .clos ing pressure is counterbalancedby the upwardpressure cr thrust exerted by the axial displacement of the thermalelementwhich causes-the boss 39 on the bel,A lows 38-to Aexert an upwardpressure against the guide member 31 so as to prevent excessiveembedding of the composition contacting surfacev or washer-29 againstits seat 2E. Whenthe temperatureot the fluid passing into the valve I0through the passage 4 vand into the upper -away from its seat 26, sothat the overheated liquid may escape from the upper chamber I1 into theintermediateA chamber I6 and discharge through the outlet pipe 50.

In the modication shown in Figures 5, 6, '1 and 8, while the valvestructure is substantially similar to the form previously described, ithas ybeen re-designed and made more compact so as to reduce the size ofthe temperature relief valve. In this form, the valve housing or body 5Ihas the interior thereof provided with the upper partition 52 and lowerpartition 53 connected at their rear endsby the vertical wall 54 spacedfrom the outer wall of the housing 5| to form the passage 55that-communicatesthe lower receiving compartment 56 with-the uppercompartment 51. Depending from the valve body 5l is a reduced externallythreaded neck 58 which is connected as at 59 to a tubular portion 60 ofa supply tank or the, like 6I.l The upper partition 52 is formed with aninternally threaded opening 62` coaxial with a smaller opening 63 inthey lower partition 153. A removable valve ring member 64 is providedwith a depending reduced threadedportion 65 which is connected to thethreaded wall of the opening 62. The ring member 64 is also formed withan upper annular :flange 66 arranged to abut the upper surface ofthepartition 52 to limit the inward movement ,of the member 64 when itis connected to the valve body. The ring member 64 has a central opening61 of slightly larger diameterithan the diameter of the` opening 63 andis formed with an outwardly extending annular bead or projection 68 thatconstitutes a seat for a composition washer 69 secured tothe valve bythe threaded bolt 1I (Fig. 6). Y A removable cap 12 is connected to thetop of the housing 5l so as to enclose the upper Achamber 51 andpreferably is formed with an outer radial flange 13 and a dependingannular lug 14 that abuts a shoulder portion on the top or neck of thevalve housingl. A gasket 16 may be interposed between the flange 13 andthe rportion 15 of the valve housing to provide a tight seal when theparts are assembled. The cap 12 may be releasably connected to thehousing by the spaced threaded bolts 11 which extend through thecomplementary flange portions 13 and 15.

Depending from the valve 16 is a guide member 16 which is secured to thevalve by the bolts 1l and normally projects through the opening 61 intothe intermediate chamber 19. `A tubular heat expandable actuatingelement Sil extends axially through the inlet port 6l and has spacedcollars `82 and 83 between which is positioned an O-ring packing 84 thatengages the adjacent wall of the opening 63 upon axial displacement ofthe tubular element 80 so as to provide a sliding lit seal forpreventing the escape of fluid from the lower chamber 56 into theintermediate chamber 16. Connected to the upper end of the tubularelement 8U is a bellows or Sylphon 85 which communicates with theinterior of the element 8B. The element 8U is lled with a suitable heatexpansible fluid and has its lower end closed and extending into theboiler 6| so as to be oprlable in substantially the same manner as thethermal member 42 previously described. The upper end 86 of the bellowsis in the form of an annular shoulder which normally is spaced from thelower end of the guide 18 but is arranged when the bellows is expandedupwardly to engage the guide member 18 so as to raise the valve from itsnormal closed position against its seat 68 in order to allow the fluidin the upper chamber 51 to escape into the intermediate chamber 19 andthe discharge pipe 81 connected to the .outlet port 88. The valve 1U isnormally urged to its closed position by a coil spring 88 which coactswith the pressure of the fluid in the upper chamber 51 to maintain thevalve closed. The upward thrust imparted to the tubular element by thepressure of the fluid being conducted into the valve causes the shoulder86 of the bellows to be moved into contact with the guide 18 which, inturn, exerts upward pressure on the underside of the composition washer69 so as to counterbalancethe downward pressureI on the opposite side ofthe valve and thus prevent excessive embedding of the valve against itsseat.

It is signicant to note that in both forms of the invention, means areprovidedfor forming an automatic or re-seating quick actuatingtemperature responsive relief valve in which replacement of all theworking parts can be obtained without removing the valve from the fluidheating systems with which it is connected, such as the boiler 6Iy andwhich is simple, efiicient and vaccurate in operation. Moreover, alluthe movable parts, including the bolloWs, are positioned within theintermediate or discharge chamber so as not to be subjected to Contactwith foreign particles or corrosion which would cause the valve to stickor which might penetrate the necessarily thin bellows and ycause thetemperature element or thermostat to become inoperative. Additionally,means are provided to maintain the closure pressure exerted on the valveat a point just sufficient to eect sealing -contact of the valve withits seat. The bellows is also positioned in the intermedi-ate chamber soas to act as a de ector for directing the excess heated iiuid into theoutlet.

It ,will be understood that the forms of the invention shown anddescribed'are merely illustrative of. preferred embodiments and thatsuch changes may be made to the valve assembly as -come within the scopeof the following claims.

We claim:

1. A relief valve comprising a housing provided with vertically spacedupper and lowei` transverse partitions connected at their inner ends bya vertical wall spaced from the adjacent wall of the housing to form apassage therebetween, said partitions separating the interior of thehousing into a lower chamber, an intermediate chamber and an upperchamber, said passage communicating the lower chamber with the upperchamber, said upper partition having an outwardly projecting valve seatandan opening communicating the upper chamber with the intermediatechamber, a movable valve arranged to engage said seat to close saidopening, means for normally maintaining the valve against its seat, saidlower partition having an opening registering with the opening in theupper partition, a thermal responsive device having a, bellowspositioned in said intermediate chamber and provided with an axiallyslidable depending tubular portion extending through the opening intheflower partition and intosaid lower chamber,

and means for operatively connecting thebellows to the valve to raisethe latter when the bellows is expanded upon the uid in the lowerchamberreaching a predeterminedtemperature.

2. A relief valve as called for in claim 1 in which the tubular portionof the thermal responsive device has a packing axially movable therewithand engaging the wall of the-opening in the lower partition to seal thelower chamber from the intermediate chamber.

3. A relief Vvalve comprising a housing provided with vertically spacedupper and lower transverse partitions connected at their inner ends by avertical wall spaced from the adjacent wall of the housing to Vform apassage therebetween, said partitions separating the interior of thehousing into a lower chamber, an intermediate chamber and an'upperchamber, said passage communicating the lower chamber with the upperchamber, said upper partition having an outwardly projecting beadedvalve seat and an opening communicating the upper chamber with theintermediate chamber, a valve having a composition surface arranged toengage said seat to close said opening, yieldable means for normallymaintaining the valve against its seat, said lower partition having anopening registering with the opening in the upper partition, a thermalresponsive device having a bellows positioned in said intermediatechamber and provided with an axially slidable depending tubular portionextending through the opening in the lower partition and into said lowerchamber, packing means on said tubular portion and sildably engaging thewall of the opening in said lower partition to preventv escape of fluidfrom the lower chamber into the intermediate chamber, and means foroperatively connecting thebellows to the valve to raise the latter whenthe bellows is expanded upon the fluid in the lower chamber reaching -apredetermined temperature.

4. A relief valve comprisin-ga housing provided with vertically spacedupper and lower transverse partitions connected at their inner ends by avertical wall spaced from the adjacent wall of the housing to form apassage therebetween, said partitions separating the interior of thehousing into a lower chamber, an intermediate chamber and an upperchamber, said passage communicating the lower ychamber with the upperchamber, said upper partition having an outwardly projecting beaded seatand an opening communicating the upper chamber with the intermediatechamber, a valve having a composition surface arranged to engage saidseat to close said opening, yieldable means for normally maintaining thevalve against its seat, said lower partition having an openingregistering with the opening in the upper partition, said valve having`a depending guide member extending through the opening in said upperpartition intosaid intermediate chamber when the valve contacts itsseat, a thermal responsive device axially displaceable in said housingand having a bellows positioned in said intermediate chamber andadepending tubular portion extending through the opening in the lowerpartition into said lower chamber, a packing connected to said tubularportion so as to be axially movable therewith and contacting the wall ofthe opening in said lower partition to provide a slidable seal forpreventing the escape of fluid from the lower chamber into theintermediate chamber, and said bellows having means normally spaced fromsaid guide member and arranged to lengage and raise the latter to openthe valve -whenthe bellowsis: expanded upon the iluid in the lowerchamber nreaching a predetermined temperature.

5. A relief valve-comprising a housing provided with vertically spacedupper and lower transversepartitions connected at their inner ends by avertical wall lspaced from the adjacent wall of thefhousing to form apassage therebetween, said partitions-separating the interior of thehousing intoY a lower chamber, an intermediate chamber and anupperchamber, saidpassage communicating the lower chamber with the upperchamber, said housing. havingl an inlet-port communicating with sai-dlower chamber and an outlet port communicating with said intermediatechamber, said partitions havingalifgned openings, the wall 'of thelopening insaidupper partition having a ring member removably mountedtherein, saidv ring memberlhavingiabeadedvalve seat, a reciprocatingvalve 'in saidupper `chamber andadapted to engage said-scatto closecommunication between theupper chamber and the --intermediatechamber, acap connected to the valve Vand closing the top l'of the upper chamber,yieldable means connedbetween 'the cap and the valve and coactingwithfthe pressure of the fluid in said upper chamber fornormallymaintaining the valve against its seat, an axially displaceable thermalresponsive device including a `bellows insertable in said intermediatechamber through the openinglin said upper partitionwhen the cap and ringmember are removed,` said device having a depending tubular portion`extending through the opening in"y the lower partition into the lowerchamber and the .inlet port; packing means on said tubular portion 'forproviding a liquidseal between the thermalfelement :and the wall of theopening in said lower partition to vprevent fluid from Aescaping fromthe lower chamberv into the intermediate chamber, means for operativelyconnecting said thermaluresponsive.device to said f valve .to move the.latter away from its seat andfor balancing the `pressure of. the fluidon opposite sides ofthe valve when-.thelvalveiis lclosed to preventexcessive pressure o the valve against its seat, said .thermalresponsive device being operabletwhenithe temperature .oftthe uidintroduced into'thezinletport and-the lower chamber reaches apredetermined ipoint to.actuate said means so as to open said valve.

6; .Arelief valvey as :called for in'claimr 5 in which the .openinginthe upper partition is of larger diameter than the bellows so that thethermal responsivedevicexand valve seat are insertable in or.movableirom. the top of the housing when the cap is.- detachedtherefrom.

7. A relief. valve including a housing provided with verticallyspacedaupper and lower transverse partitions connected at their innerends by a vertical wall spaced from the adjacent wall of the housing toform a vertical passage therebetween, said partitions separating theinterior of the housing into` a lower chamber, an intermediatechamberand an upper chamber, said passage communicating the lowerchamber withthe upper chamber, said partitions having vertically aligned openings,said upper partitionhavingian annular valve seat `adjacent its opening,a cap connected to the housing and closing said upper chamber, .areciprocating valve in said upper chamber and arranged normally to bemoved into closed engagement with said valve seat so as to cut off theflow of the fluid from the -upper chamber into theintermediate-chamber,yieldable means confined between said valve and said cap land. coactingwith the pressure of the fluid delivered to the upper chamber throughsaid passage for normally moving and' maintaining the valve against itsseat, said valve having a depending guide extending through the openingin the upper partition yand projecting into said interme di'ate chamberwhen the valve is closed, said housing having an inlet portcommunicating with said lower chamber and an outlet port ycommunicatingwith Isaid intermediate chamber, a tubular thermal responsive deviceextending axially through said inlet and said lower chamber through theopening in the lower partition and into said intermediate chamber, saiddevice having at its upper end a exible metal bellows positioned withinthe intermediate chamber, ksaid device having an annular shoulderengaging the wall of the opening in the lower partition, 'a packingbetween said device and the wall of said last mentionedv opening toprovide a Iseal to permit axial movement of the thermal responsivedevice, and a stop shoulder on said device between said lower partitionand said bellows for limiting the downward movement of the latter.

, 8. A reliefvalve as called for in claim 7 in which the opening in theupper partition is larger than the opening in the lower partition andsaid bellows so that the thermal responsive device and valve seat areinsertable in? or removable from the top of the housing when.` the capis detached therefrom.

FRANK H. MELLER. EARL E. TINKER.

References Cited in the fiile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

